Aurangzeb ‘Alamgir and the Mughal Empire

The first complete history of Aurangzeb 'Alamgir's life, contesting simplistic understandings of the controversial Mughal emperor's rule.

This remarkable new history cuts through the many myths that have obscured the extraordinary life-story of Emperor Aurangzeb 'Alamgir (r. 1658–1707). Contesting simplistic narratives, Faruqui presents a richly researched and deeply nuanced picture of the emperor, the role of the imperial harem and eunuchate and the nature of Mughal sovereignty.Aurangzeb 'Alamgir (r. 1658–1707) was the last of the so-called 'great' Mughal emperors. He remains a controversial historical figure: castigated for religious intolerance and placed at the centre of a narrative of Mughal decline by some; considered a great Muslim hero by others. In this richly researched exploration of Aurangzeb 'Alamgir's life and times, Munis D. Faruqui contests such simplistic understandings to unearth a more nuanced picture of the emperor and his reign. Drawing on a large and varied archive, Faruqui provides new insights into the emperor's rise to power, his administrative and religious policies, and the role of the imperial eunuchate and harem. By unpicking the complex dynamics of a long reign, from Aurangzeb 'Alamgir's accession to the last weeks of his life and his eighteenth-century memorialisation, this remarkable new history cuts through the many myths that have obscured the extraordinary life story of Emperor Aurangzeb 'Alamgir.